Research from the Bank of England Archive sheds light on the famous artist’s career and investments.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) was a landscape and history painter. Throughout his career he produced an extensive catalogue of work and frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy. Recognised as a Romantic artist, his artworks include oil paintings, engravings and watercolours, with many now held for the nation at Tate Britain.

Turner used his artistic talent to amass a considerable fortune. Records of transactions found within the stock ledger collection from the Bank of England Archive show that his earliest investments of 3% Consols stock were made when he was just 18 years old.

Our new display uses entries from the stock ledgers, which record the accounts of stockholders, to provide an insight into Turner’s investments and the details around his transactions.

To coincide with JMW Turner featuring on the new £20 note, find out about the variety of stock purchases made by Turner in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, how these were processed, and what types of stock were popular at the time Turner was investing.

EXLON sprang from our frustration with media outlets that overlook so many smaller events and exhibitions. As regular museum goers, we often find it’s the unknown, the hidden gems, the off the beaten track events that are the most satisfying.
The Art community in London is huge and surely the best informed in the world.

The aim of the EXLON project is to tap into that community with the power of the Internet, Social Media and of course our website to create a user-driven and led comprehensive resource for Art exhibitions and events in London. We want to showcase all that London offers and not just the big names.
EXLON is a place where the playing field is level and everyone can have a voice no matter how big or small. Join us and share your passion with the world!